To Be American is Not A Right, It is A Virtue

re: To Be American is Not A Right, It is A Virtue

LeeH — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:06:54 GMT

Viral, I regularly read your blog with interest, as I do the other Microsoft evangelists as it gives good technical insight.

But I don't read Microsoft feeds for political opinions or a speech on your view of a candidate.

Poor form old chap.

re: To Be American is Not A Right, It is A Virtue

Viral Tarpara — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:46:23 GMT

Hi LeeH,

I'm glad you enjoy reading my blog, I really do. I would respectfully say that if you don't like reading a particular topic, stop reading. This blog will always be technically focused, but it is my blog and I'll put whatever I feel is relavent in my social, economic, technical, and political life.

I don't know if you are American or British, but like it or not, politics has a significant impact on technology. It is people & technology that constructed the highways of America, it is technology that allowed us to send a man to the moon, and it is technology along with vision that will solve the problems of the 21st century.

re: To Be American is Not A Right, It is A Virtue

LeeH — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:19:04 GMT

Hi Viral,

Fair enough, I just found it unexpected to have a political broadcast amongst my tech feeds.

You bring up some really interesting points about the relationship between technology and politics (moon landing especially) and I realise now that I've no idea where Hillary/McCain/Obama stand on pushing technology issues. I guess my cynicism tells me that there's not much between them but you have spured me on to find out!

Thanks though for running a good blog and for replying, it's appreciated.

re: To Be American is Not A Right, It is A Virtue

Viral Tarpara — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 06:36:40 GMT

I actually read a lot of Digg and Slashdot to get some political insight on where the candidates stand. The official campaign websites are also a good place to look, but I find that the information presented is not deep enough to make a strong technical assessment of the positions.

For example, two technology policies that have had dire consequences with regard to IT, computing, and intellectual property have been Sarbanes-Oxley Act during Bush 2002 and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act during the Clinton era. The latter has been one of the most abused technologies law in the history of computing and copyright. The notion of fair-use in this country has all but been eroded by strong corporate entities.

Another issue that is critical to software computing is the issue of Software patents. I will say that I am strongly against software patents even though my employer will likely fight tooth and nail for them. Issues like copyright, fair-use, security hacking, and software patents are complex and require critical analysis and observation from all view points.

Xbox and Massive Used to Rock the Vote

HaveYouSeenMyStapler.NET - Viral Tarpara's Blog — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:19:20 GMT

It was big news a few weeks ago when Microsoft announced that US citizens could use their XBox 360s to